11.01.13

1994 Group statement on the drop in non-EU postgraduate students

Alex Bols, Executive Director of the 1994 Group, said:

“International
postgraduate students are vital for the UK’s research base and our economy. The
1994 Group is therefore extremely concerned about the figures released by the Higher Education Statistical Agency (Hesa) which show a 1% drop in the number of
postgraduate students travelling from non-EU countries to study at UK
universities in the 2011/12 academic year. The indications are that entry for 2012/13
has been even worse. This follows a period of 6 years annual growth of 10% in international
university applications.

“These
figures show that the government’s regressive reforms to the student visa
system and the Home Secretary's megaphone alienating rhetoric are unnecessarily
shrinking the size of our potential graduate talent pool. We are increasingly
anxious that this is specifically deterring the world’s most able students from
applying to the UK.

“British
universities are renowned worldwide for their research and teaching quality. If
we wish to continue to attract the brightest postgraduate students to the UK
the Government needs to act now to support Higher Education institutions in
doing so.

“Last year
international students paid £2.5bn to universities in tuition fees; a figure
that is expected to double by 2025. These fees account for over 9% of
total university income. On top of that the Department for Business, Innovation
and Skills (BIS) estimates that international students add roughly £4.5bn to
the wider economy year on year - money that sustains demand in local economies
as domestic consumers belt-tighten.

“International
students provide employers with a pool of highly talented, well-educated
graduates and add welcome cultural diversity to our campuses. As alumni they
often go on to serve as excellent ambassadors for Britain across the world with
strong tendencies to build business relations with the UK. While visa abuse
must be curtailed, targeting quality students applying for courses at top
universities is not the way to go about it.”

1. The 1994 Group represents 11 leading smaller universities.
It was founded to promote excellence in research and teaching. According to the
most recent assessments, 88% of its members’ research is internationally recognised
(RAE 2008) and 88% of its members’ students were satisfied with their
university experiences (NSS 2012). In 2011, its members added £1.7bn to the UK
economy, fulfilled over 1800 research contracts for business, and held stakes
in 34 spin-out companies.2. 6 of the top 30 universities in the Guardian
University Guide 2013 are 1994 Group members; 7 of the top 30 universities in
the Complete University Guide 2012 are 1994 Group members; 11 of the UK’s
top-ranked research departments are in 1994 members, and all its members have a
top-3 rated department for research excellence.

3. The 1994 Group represents Birkbeck,
University of London; the University of East Anglia; the University of Essex;
Goldsmiths, University of London; the Institute of Education, University of
London; Royal Holloway, University of London; Lancaster University; the
University of Leicester; Loughborough University; the School of Oriental and
African Studies, and the University of Sussex.